PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organizing the Rajasthan Cold Chain Summit in Jaipur, on the 7th of July 2023. The summit aims to address the challenges faced by the cold chain industry, aid in improving infrastructure through effective deliberations between the industry and the policymakers, and foster integration among stakeholders. Its primary objective is to sensitize government policies, encourage the establishment of new cold chain infrastructure and leverage the support from government schemes and initiatives.
The Indian cold chain industry has been witnessing remarkable growth, with the market size reaching INR 1,814.9 billion in 2022. Analysts anticipate the market to expand to INR 3,798.7 billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 13.1% during 2022-2028. India being the world’s largest producer of milk and the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables requires a substantial cold chain infrastructure to store and transport temperature-sensitive products.
The expansion of organized food retail is also one of the key drivers behind the expansion of the Indian cold chain market. With the continued growth of organized retail, consumers gain access to a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, poultry, and other temperature-sensitive commodities that necessitate cold chain storage and transportation. Recognizing this, many organized retail players have prioritized the establishment of a robust cold chain infrastructure in order to efficiently manage their supply chains.
The Indian cold chain market is divided into two segments: cold chain storage and cold chain transportation, while cold chain storage currently dominates the market. The product segment includes fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, dairy products, and healthcare products. The private sector represents the largest segment, while the market is further categorized into organized and unorganized sectors.
Geographically, the Indian cold chain market is spread across various states including Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Gujarat, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and others.
Given this backdrop, the upcoming Cold Chain Summit in Jaipur aims to address the challenges faced by the industry, promote infrastructure development, and foster integration among stakeholders.
Mr. Asheesh Fotedar, the COO of the National Centre for Cold Chain Development, highlighted the crucial role played by suitable and sustainable cold chain infrastructure in facilitating a well-functioning supply chain that directly benefits local farmers and growers. Moreover, Rajasthan’s advantageous geographical position further enhances its contribution to the economy, especially in the agricultural sector, particularly horticulture produce.
Mr. Kapil Shukla, Co-Founder of the Green Resolution Foundation, emphasized on the challenges associated with adopting sustainable practices in the cold chain industry. He also stressed on the importance of optimizing refrigeration technology, reducing waste in the supply chain, utilizing renewable energy sources, and implementing innovative technologies such as IoT sensors.
The upcoming Cold Chain Summit in Jaipur aims to foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing and shape the future of the cold chain sector in Rajasthan. Through meaningful discussions, the summit aims to highlight innovative solutions and promote the adoption of sustainable practices. Further, the summit endeavours to contribute to India’s economic growth while prioritizing environmental sustainability.
The summit is supported by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI); The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and sponsored by Waaree Group; I2I Consulting; USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPECC); National Centre for Cold-chain Development (NCCD) as the Knowledge Partner; Green Resolution as Sustainability Partner.